Continuous towel side release device



March 4;, 1941. J, WILKiNSON 2,234,067

CONTINUOUS TOWEL SIDE RELEASE DEVICE Filed May 8, 1937 ATTORN EY5 Patented Mar. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE CONTINUOUS TOWEL SIDE RELEASE DEVICE Application May 8, 1937, Serial No. 141,449

8 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in towel cabinet systems, and has particular relation to a continuous towel side release device.

An object of the invention is to provide in association with a continuous towel dispensing apparatus, means for reducing wasting of the towel by the user thereof.

Another object is to provide in association with a continuous towel dispensing apparatus, a releasing means so located as to require that a user stand in front of the dispenser to release the towel and draw it into position for use, whereby pulling of the towel toward one side of the dispenser in a manner to cause folding of the towel and jamming of the device is rendered unlikely.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed, but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a portion of a towel dispensing apparatus, the near wall being broken away, and showing the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view somewhat similar to but at right angles to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational View, on a reduced scale, showing the complete dispensing device, a

' part of the cabinet being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, through a locking head and showing associated therewith a portion of an operating dog;

Fig. 5 is an edge view of the locking head and showing also a driving sprocket and chain;

Fig, 6 is an elevational view with a part broken away, showing the complete operating dog and its mounting;

Fig. 7 is an elevational View of a locking head, similar to that of Figs, 4 and 5 but employing a somewhat different construction of bolt; and

Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional View of a bearing employed for mounting the operating knob or handle.

Referring in detail to the drawing the invention is shown as applied to a continuous towel dispenser, including a cabinet generally designated l0, and comprising a rear section II and a front section l2 hinged to said rear section at [3. Within the cabinet I0 is a towel supporting and dispensing apparatus of known construction, generally designated I4, and comprising frame means l5 supporting a roll of toweling [6, one end of which is carried over a roller l1 and then 5 down and under a control roller l8, over aroller I9 and then out through a slot 20 in the front wall 2| of the cabinet. At the front of the cab inet the towel is carried over a roller 22 and 4 forms a depending loop 23 before being carried 10 back into the cabinet through slot 20. It will be understood that the portion of the towel carried back into the cabinet is the used portion thereof and such portion passes about a roller 24 and then is wound onto a roller 25.

The surface of roller [8 is rough or of some material to grip the towel (see Fig. 2) whereby the towel cannot be pulled over the roller without rotating the latter. Rotatable with the roller I8 is a pin or shaft 26 on the outer end of which is a locking head 21 (hereinafter more fully described), and on said pin or shaft inwardly of the head 21 is a sprocket wheel 28. A chain 29 is trained over Wheel 28 and over a sprocket 30 25 on a shaft 3i fast with the roller 24, whereby as a user pulls the towel over the roller I 8 and the latter is rotated it, through the said chain, rotates roller 24. The surface of the latter being rough or of a material to grip the towel draws the used portion of the towel into the cabinet as fresh portions thereof are drawn out of the cabinet. This roller 24 also winds the used toweling on the roll 25. As seen in Fig. 1 the shaft 3| extends through arcuate slots l5a in the frame 35 and is mounted on arms 24a pivoted to swing about a pivot in axial alignment with sprocket 28. Thus the roller 24 is free to move up and down and rest on the rolled toweling 25a on the roller 25, and by its frictional engagement on 0 this rolled toweling rotates it to wind more toweling as fast as it is received. Also, roller 24 may rise as the diameter of the rolled toweling 25a increases. The above described construction is well known in continuous towel dispensing ap- 45 paratus and such known apparatus includes also the tensioning springs 32.

Head 21 has a slot 33 therethrough in which is slidable a bolt 34 of such length as to have one end or the other always projecting beyond the 50 periphery of the head. An intermediate portion of the bolt is out awayor recessed as at 35 (see Fig. 4) for the accommodation of the shaft 26. The ends of the recess 35 by engagement with shaft 26 limit longitudinal sliding movement of :39? upper portion of the dog and the bracket 43 i a purpose to be described. This knob is rigid i so,

do not have free turning movement in the fixed the bolt in the head 21. While the bolt is slidable as described it is held against free movement since it is engaged by one end of a coil spring 36 arranged within a socket or recess 31 in the head and held in place as by a threaded plug 38. The construction of the bolt with respect to the head 21 is such that on one end of the bolt being pushed into the head the other end thereof is projected from the opposite side of the head. At one end bolt 34 is provided with an inclined or cam surface 39 while at its other end it includes a step-like formation resulting in end portions 46 and 4| and a shoulder 42 between such 1 portions. 7 r

Secured to the front wall 2| of the cabinet is a bracket 43 to which is pivoted at 44 a dog 45 comprising a plate-like structure having a portion of its upper edge cut away to provide a lug 46. The dog 45 also includes a lower extension 41 through which is threaded a screw 48. The inner end of the screw rests against the bracket 43 and thus the screw determines the normal'position of the dog. IBy threading such screw in one direction or the other through extension 41 the normal position of the dog may be changed. If desired a lock nut 49 may be provided on the screw to jam against the extension and secure the screw in adjusted positions. A coil spring 56 arranged between the serves to keep the dog in normal position and to return it thereto when moved therefrom.

Mounted on the side wall 5| of the cabinet is a knob 52 adapted to be rotated by hand for with a stem or shank 53 extending through a bearing 54 mounted on the side wall 5|, and within the cabinet beyond the bearing 54 a cam means 55 is secured to such stem, whereby on rotation of the knob said cam means will be rotated. The bearing 54 (see Fig. 8) comprises a pair of members 56 and 51 arranged one at each side of the wall 5|, and the member 51 includes a hollow extension 58 projecting through the wall and'the member 56, and having its inner endspun over, as at 59, whereby the members are secured together and in such relation that they clampa portion of the wall 5| between Camineans 55 comprises a split block or member 66 clamped on the inner end of the stem 53, and-between such member and the bearing 54 is asplit washer or other friction means 6| hereby the knob 52, stem 53 and member 66 beneath the outer or free end of the dog 45;

In the operation of the device, assuming the parts to be in the positions shown in Fig. 1, the shoulder 42 of the bolt 34 is in engagement with the lug 46 of dog 45 and holds the device 21 and roller l8 against rotation so that a further portion of the towel may not be pulled from the cabinet. To release the roller the operator rotates knob 52 in a clockwise direction whereby the head of the screw 62 is brought against the dog 45, rocking the same about its pivot 44 whereby its lug 46 engages the portion 46 of the bolt forcing the latter back into the head 21 and into the dotted line position of Fig. 4. On the rotation of the knob being continued the screw 62 passes from under the dog and the spring 56 returns this dog to normal position. Now with the lower end of the bolt within the head, so the shoulder 42 is moved away from the lug 46, the head may rotate, and the operator by pulling on the towel may draw a portion of it out of the cabinet for use.

1 ,When the roller I8 and head 21 have made one-half revolution the cam end 39 of the bolt engages the lug 46 of dog 45, but owing to the cam surface 39 the result of further rotation is that the bolt is forced up into the head 21 and the roller l8 may continue to move, permitting an additional amount of towel to be withdrawn from the cabinet. This shifting of the bolt due to its cam end engaging the dog 45 results in its shouldered end 4| being again projected from the head 21, so that on the next half revolution the shoulder 42 of the bolt again engages the dog, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, whereby the roller I8 is locked against rotation and a further supply of towel may not be withdrawn.

Should the operator require a further supply of towel he must now rotate the knob 52 through a complete revolution to have the cam means 55 again shift the bolt 34. Thus each time the operator wants more than a predetermined amount of thetowel he must work the knob 52 a complete revolution. Becauseof the friction resulting from the use of the spring washer 6| the knob is not free and cannot be spun around, so that each time the operator wishes to release the roller I8 for the withdrawal of additional lengths of the towel, he must turn the knob a complete revolution which requires him to grip it and let go several times as only a partial revolution can be made with a single grip. Thus the likelihood of any one playing with the device or releasing and pulling out several lengths of clean-towel which he does not use is greatly reduced, thus greatly reducing wasting-of towels; In the old type of device there was a push button on the front wall which released'the bolt 34 by merely pushing the button in. This made it easy for one to release and pull through a number of lengths of towel which he did not use, causing considerable wasting of the towels.

The screws 48 and 62 provide adjustments to be used when mounting the present means on the dispenser. These provide for any adjustments necessary to compensate for any variations between the cabinet and the dispensing apparatus per se so the elements can be properly located for best operation.

Fig. '1 shows a slight modification or variation wherein the locking head 21a is equipped with a bolt 64 having the same construction at each of its ends. That is at each of its ends the bolt 64 has a step-like formation comprising end portions 65 and 66 between which are located shoulders 61. The ends 65 and the shoulders 61 of bolt 64 function in the same manner as the end 46 and shoulder 42 of the bolt 34 already described. Therefore it will be understood that when a bolt 64 is used the operator must work the knob 52 around to release the roller'at the end of each half revolution of the latter, while with the bolt 34 it is only necessary to work the knob around drawn out at each operation as with the bolt 34.

As indicated above, heretofore in these dispensers for continuous towels the locking bolt has been released by a depressable button or the like. Such devices are readily operable, and frequently the operator would depress the button several times and draw off more towel than needed, with the result that considerable waste of the towel occurred. With the present device each predetermined amount of the towel must be worked for, the release requiring several operations of the knob, and there is little likelihood of waste.

Also, the knob 52 being at the side of the cabinet the operator stands in front of the latter, and working the knob with one hand pulls the towel with the other. Thus the pull will be out from the cabinet and not sidewise with respect thereto. When the releasing button is at the front of the cabinet it may be easily operated from almost any position, and therefore the operators by not standing in front of the cabinet pull the towel toward one side causing the towel to fold and then cause jamming in the rollers about which the used portions of the towel are wound. Furthermore in the old type the releasing button was substantially on a level with the shaft 26 and is often operated by a blow from the hands which are covered with water from the washing operation. This causes water to be thrown into the device about the rod carrying the button or possibly the towel slot in the front of the cabinet causing the parts to rust out and become inoperative. It will be seen from Figs. 2 and 3 that in the present device the knob 52 is on the side of the cabinet where water cannot be thrown into the parts in the manner described as the knob is operated. It will also be seen the knob is located at a considerable distance below the shaft 26 so that the operators arm is not held so high or at such a steep angle when operating the knob so the water from the wet hand is much less apt to run down the arm into the sleeve.

Although a rotary knob similar to that shown at 52 is preferred as the operating means for the release device as above described, the invention includes other forms of manually operable means located outside the casing for operating this release mechanism. Thus for example a hand lever or any other suitable operating device can be mounted on the shaft 53 in place of the knob 52 for operating this shaft.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination with a continuous towel dispensing apparatus including a roller rotated by the towel as it is pulled from the apparatus, a locking means to stop rotation of said roller following predetermined movement thereof and thus limit the amount of towel that may be pulled from the apparatus, a cabinet enclosing said apparatus, means for releasing said looking means to permit said predetermined movement of the roller to be repeated, said means including a pivoted dog within the cabinet, a cam within said cabinet and located to engage and move said dog, and a rotary knob at the outer side of said cabinet and connected to rotate said cam to shift the dog to release the locking means.

2. In combination with a continuous towel dispensing apparatus including a roller rotated by the towel as it is pulled from the apparatus, a locking means to stop rotation of said roller following predetermined movement thereof and thus limit the amount of towel that may be pulled from the apparatus, a cabinet enclosing said apparatus, means for releasing said locking means to permit said predetermined movement of the roller to be repeated, said means including a dog pivoted within the cabinet, an adjustable cam means within said cabinet and located to engage and move said dog, and a rotary knob at the outer side of said cabinet and connected to rotate said cam to shift the dog to release the locking means.

3. In combination with a continuous towel dispensing apparatus including a roller rotated by the towel as it is pulled from the apparatus, a locking means to stop rotation of said roller following predetermined movement thereof and thus limit the amount of towel that may be pulled from the apparatus, a cabinet enclosing said apparatus, means for releasing said looking means to permit said predetermined movement of the roller to be repeated, said means including a pivoted dog within the cabinet, a cam within said cabinet and located to engage and move said dog, a rotary knob at the outside of the cabinet and connected to rotate said cam to shift the dog to release the locking means, a spring for returning the dog to normal position when moved therefrom, and a screw adjustable to determine the normal position of said dog.

4. In combination with a continuous towel dispensing apparatus including a roller rotated.

by the towel as the latter is pulled from the apparatus, a locking head connected with said roller, a locking bolt slidable through said head and normally having an end projecting beyond the periphery of the head, a dog normally in the path of movement of the projecting end of the bolt whereby to limit rotation of the locking head and thus of the roller to limit the amount the towel may be pulled from the apparatus, a cabinet enclosing said apparatus having a front wall and a rearwardly extending side wall, a rotary cam within the cabinet adapted to shift said dog and through the latter force the projecting end of the bolt back into the head to thereby permit of further rotation of the locking head and roller, and a handle at the outer side of said side Wall for manual manipulation of said cam to shift the dog.

5. In combination with a continuous towel dispensing apparatus including a roller rotated by the towel as it is pulled from the apparatus, a locking head connected with said roller, a locking bolt slidable through said head and of such length that one end thereof is always projecting beyond the periphery of the head, a dog normally in the path of movement of the projecting end of the bolt whereby to limit rotation of the looking head and thus of the roller to limit the amount the towel may be pulled from the apparatus, a cabinet enclosing said apparatus having a front wall and a rearwardly extending side wall, a rotary cam means adapted to shift said dog and through the latter force the projecting end of the bolt back into the head to thereby permit of further rotation of the locking head and roller, a rotary knob at the outer side of said side wall and connected to rotate said cam to shift the dog, and friction means preventing free rotation of said knob.

6. In a towel dispensing apparatus, a locking head arranged to be rotated by the towel as the latter is pulled from the apparatus, a locking bolt slidable through said head and normally ment of the projecting end of the bolt whereby to limit rotation of the head to limit the amount the towel may be pulled from the apparatus, a

cabinet enclosing said apparatus having a front wall and a rearwardly extending side wall, a

cam within the cabinet to shift the dog to move the bolt and release the head, and manually operable rotatable means at the outer side of the side wall to shift the cam by rotation of said means about its axis.

7. A towel dispensing apparatus including a locking member rotated by the towel as it is pulled from the apparatus, a locking bolt movable in said member and having a shoulder, a movable dog normally in the path of movement of the shoulder to limit said movement of the member by action of the towel, a cabinet enclosing said apparatus having a front wall and a'rearwardly extending side wall, a movable cam within the cabinet to operate said dog to shift the bolt to release said member, and manually operable rotatable means at the outer side of said sidewall for operating the cam by rotary movement of said member about its axis.

8. A towel dispensing apparatus including a locking member rotated by the towel as it is pulled from the apparatus, a locking bolt slidable in the member and having a projecting shoulder, a movable dog normally in the path of movement of the shoulder to limit movement of the memher, a cabinet enclosing the apparatus having a front wall and a rearwardly extending side wall, a rotary cam within the cabinet to operate said dog to shift the bolt to release the member, and manually operable means at the outer side of the said side wall for rotating the cam.

JOSEPH WILKINSON. 

